Self loading firearm



May 29, 1934. A, MAREK 1,960,913

SELF LOADING FIREARM Filed Sept. 17, 1931 6 FIG-4 y 5 9- A ATTORNEY Patented May 2%, 1934 SELF DOING FIREARM Application September 17, 1931, Serial No. 553,333 In Czechoslovakia September 13, 133i) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to self -1oading fire-arms of the type comprising a travelling breech the movement of which into the locking and unlocking positions is governed by actuating or controlling means, and has for its object to ensure the smooth working of the breech, and thereby to increase the precision of the fire-arm. In accordance with the invention this object is achieved by providing the fire-arm with a shockabsorbing device which influences the unlocking and locking movements of the breech. The shock-absorbing device consists conveniently of guiding means which guide the breech positively during its controlled movement. Through the positive guidance of the breech during its locking and unlocking movements the controlled movement of the breech is so favourably influenced in regard to its effect on the fire-arm, and that without the empioyment of any springing means, that the breech in practice works absolutely smoothly, and the fire-arm thereby acquires great accuracy of firing.

In the drawing there is shown, as a constructional example of the carrying out of the invention, a self-loading fire-arm having a breech adapted to rock to and from the breech carrier. Fig. 1 shows in longitudinal section the middle portion of the self-loading fire-arm with the breech closed.

. Fig. 2 shows the breech and the breech carrier, on an enlarged scale, in the position in which the rocking of the breech towards the breech carrier commences.

Fig. 3 shows the relative positions of the most important elements of the shock-absorbing device, on an enlarged scale, when the breech mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows the breech carrier and the breech, in elevation, in the position in which the breech is released.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line VV of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows the relative positions of the most important elements of the shock-absorbing device when the breech mechanism is in the position shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawing, 1 denotes the barrel,

2 the breech casing attached to the barrel, 5 the breech carrier, and 6 the breech. The breech is provided with a locking projection 16 the effective surface 16 of which is adapted to cooperate with a counter locking surface 18 provided on the breech casing 2. The breech carrier 5, which in the constructional example shown in the drawing is longitudinally slidable in guides (Cl. ib-4) 40 in the casing 2, is provided with an oblique controlling surface 25 which, in cooperation with the controlling surface 26 on the breech 6, effects the releasing of the breech. The controlling surface provided on the breech carrier 5, and adapted 69 to become eiiective in the closing of the breech,

is denoted by 36, and cooperates with the controlling surface 35 provided on the breech. The controlling surface 36 consists of a curved arcshaped portion 36 and of an adjoining oblique 6 straight portion 36".

The fire-arm is provided with a shock-absorbing device which influences the releasing and locking movements of the breech in such a manner that the breech works as smoothly as possible. 7 The shock-absorbing device consists in accordance with the invention of guiding means 42, 43 which guide the breech positively during the controlled movement of the latter by the breech carrier, that is to say during the rocking of the breech to and from the breech carrier, and which also to a certain extent participate in the controlling of the movement of the breech. These guiding means 12, 43 are provided partly on the breech itself and partly on a portion of the fire- 0 arm relative to which the member controlling the movement of the breech into the locking and unlocking positions, i. e. in the present instance the breech carrier, moves. In the constructional example shown in the drawing the guiding means constituting the shock-absorbing device are provided partly on the breech 6 and partly on the breech casing 2 on which the engaging surface 18 for the locking projection 18 of the breech is also provided. The guiding means 42, 43 are provided, as shown in Fig. 5, on both sides of the breech, and consist, in the constructional example shown in the drawing, of guiding members 42. (pins), which are attached in any suitable manner to the side walls of the breech casing 2, and of guiding surfaces 43 provided on each side of the breech 6 and adapted to cooperate with the pins 42. Each of the guiding surfaces 43 comprises a curved portion 43 and substantially straight portions 43 and 43" adjoining this curved portion. The one straight portion 43 of the guiding surface 43 is disposed parallel or approximately parallel to the locking surface 18' provided on the breech casing 2 for the engage ment of the locking projection on the breech. The second straight portion 43 of the guiding surface 43 is disposed at an angle to the direction of the longitudinal movement of the breech. In conjunction with the described shaping of the guiding surface 43 the guide pin 42 is so disposed cal that, when the breech is in the locked position, the a said pin is at or near the point of transition from the straight portion 43 to the curved portion 43' of the guiding surface 43, and touching the same.

On the firing of a shot the portions of the firearm concerned assume the positions shown in Fig. l. The barrel 1 together with the casing 2 is flung back by the recoil in the direction of the arrow 10, against the action of a braking spring, which is not shown in the drawing and which brakes the movement of the barrel 1 and of the casing 2 in the direction of the arrow 33 and after braking returns these parts into the positionof rest. The parts 1 and 2, in travelling backwards, take the breech carrier 5 and the breech 6 with them. By means of an impelling device which is only indicated diagrammatically in the drawing, and can be of any desired construction, an accelerated movement in the direction of the arrow 39 is imparted to the breech carrier 5 in relation to the parts 1, 2 during the described backward movement of the latter in the direction of the arrow 32. During thisaccelerated movement ofthe breech carrier 5 the controlling surface 25 encountersthe controlling surface 26 (see Fig. 2).

From this moment on, the oblique controlling surface25, in conjunction with the controlling surface 26, effects the rocking of the breech towards-the breech carrier. During this rocking movement the guiding surface 43 slides with its portions 43 and 43 on the .pin 42, and guides the breech positively and perfectly smoothly out of engagement with the locking surface 18 (compare the position of the breech in Fig. 4).

The breech carrier 5 travelling back withan accelerated movement takes the now released breech backwards with it. During the latter movement the controlling surface 43 slides a further short distance with its straight portion 43 on thepin 42, and causes the breech to settle on the breech carrier gently and without concussion.

The guiding surface 43 now comes freeof the pin 42, since the latter, in consequence of its position on the casing 2, is gradually brought to rest by the braking of this casing and of the barrel 1 in the direction of the arrow p, and finally returns row q, and before the breech comes in contact. with the rear end of the barrel, the guiding SUT,

face 43 slides on to the guide pin 42, at first with 1 its oblique portion. The breech slides with 35 on 36", is moved gently out of the position of engagement, and is prepared for the cooperation of its controlling means 35 with the controlling surthe breech in such a manner that the breech is guided firmly and smoothly into the'locked posi- .of the latter.

neither. too small nor too large, but must be de-l The. breech carrier 5 travelling.

The breech carrier 5, in moving on 'tion (Figs. 2 and 1). The breech carrier 5 actuates with its projection 47 the striking pin 10, and thereby fires the shot. From the above description of the mode of operation of the fire-arm it will be clear that particular importance attaches to the oblique portion 43" of the guiding surface 43. This straight portion 43 of the guiding surface 43 is effective in the final phase of the releasing movement and in the initial phase of the locking movement of the breech. This guiding portion 43", in cooperation with theiguide members 42, effects in the final phase of the releasing movement of the breech akind of braking of the breech movement, in such a manner that the breech moves into the final released position extremely gently and without any reacting shock to the fire-arm. At the commencement of the locking movement of the breech, the straight guiding portion 43" effects the gentle lifting of the breech from the released position, and thus initiates the locking movement of the breech without shock. The arc-shaped portion 43' of the guiding surface 43 is also of importance, since it guides the breech positively by the cooperation of the controlling surfaces25, 26, .and 36, 35, respectively. The arc -shaped portion 43 effects a gentle transition of the movement of the breech from the direction of the locking surface 18' into the longitudinal direction, and vice versa, which is shown clearly by the chain-line curve 50 inFigs. 2 and 4 which describes the locus of a selected point 50' .onthe breech during the releasing or looking movement The radius of the arc 43 must be termined in accordance with the controlling means employed.

The above-described shock-absorbing device also compensates. the manufacturing errors and allowances therefor, since it provides positive guidance of the breech and thus renders the same independent of manufacturing errors.

The invention is not limited to breech mechanism of the type inwhich the breech rocks to and from a breech carrier, but can be applied with advantage to any movable breech mechanism in which the breech is subject to a controlled locking and releasing action.

I claimzl. A firearm comprising a casing, a carrierd'isposedin said casing and adapted to perform relative movements with respect theretO abreech supported by said carrier and adaptedto perform relative movements with respect to the carrier, locking lugs provided on said casing and ;the breech, guides provided on the latter and the carrier to produce the reciprocating movement between the, breech and the carrier, and second separate guides on said breech and said casing additionally and simultaneously controlling the said-.movement of the breech, to subdivide the recoil momentum and avoid shocks to the breech.

2. A self loading firearm, asclaimed in claim 1, in which the said second guideways, each comprise a straight section inclined withrespect to the longitudinal axes of the firearm.

3. A self loading firearm, as claimed in claim 1, in which the said second guideways,. each comprise a straight section inclined with respect to the longitudinal axes of the firearm, said straight section terminating in a curved section the free end whichfollows a line parallel with the movement of the breech from its locked position.

4., A firearm comprising acasing, a carrier being disposed in said casing and performing a reciprocating movement with respect to the casing, a breech being supported by the carrier and performing a relative reciprocating movement with respect thereto and the casing, co-operating lugs on the breech and the casing to keep the former in locked position, said breech comprising a first cam-surface co-operating with the carrier and a second separate cam-surface co-operating with the casing, the relative movements of the carrier, breech and casing with respect to one another subdividing the recoil momentum and avoiding shocks to the breech.

5. A firearm comprising a barrel-carrying casing, a breech carrier movably disposed in the casing, a breech supported by said carrier and adapted to perform a reciprocating movement withrrespect thereto, propelling means for said movable carrier, co-operating locking lugs on the breech and the casing; the said carrier comprising a cam-surface and the said breech comprising a cam-surface co-operating with the said camsurface of the carrier; the said casing comprising guides, and the breech comprising second camsurfaces controlled by the said guides on the casing, whereby, when a shot is fired, relative movements of the barrel carrying casing, the breech carrier, and the breech with respect to one another occur subdividing the recoil-momentum and avoiding shocks to the breech.

6. A firearm, as claimed in claim 5, in which said carrier is provided with a second cam-surface and the said breech is provided with a third camsurface adapted to co-operate with the said second cam-surface of the carrier on the prolonged backward movement of the breech and on the return movement from such prolonged backward displacement.

'7. A firearm, as claimed in claim 5, in which the said second cam-surfaces of the breech each consist of a straight section inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the firearm; said straight section terminating in a curved section the free end of which follows a line parallel with the movement of the breech from its locked position.

ANTON MAREK. 

